TWIN QUESTIONS TIRE MOM

Dear Abby: I am the mother of twin boys, who always draw a crowd. All that attention can be fun - unless you're in a hurry to get somewhere.

I wish I had a dollar for each time I was asked the following questions: Are they twins? (Yes.) How old are they? (11 months.) What are their names? (Jonathan and Donovan.) How much do they weigh? (About 17 pounds each.) How much did they weigh when they were born? (2 pounds 14 ounces.) Are they identical? (No, but occasionally, I get them mixed up.) Do twins run in your family? (They do now.) I'll bet they keep you busy! (They certainly do.) Then I add, "Please don't pinch their cheeks or touch their hands. They were almost three months premature and were in intensive care for two months after their birth. They are fine, but the doctors say they are still susceptible to illness."- Carole Beth Hawn, Eugene, Ore.

Dear Carole Beth: Being a twin, I am familiar with all the "twin" questions. The most frequently asked stupid question: "Did you ever get yourselves mixed up?"

Dear Abby: I agree with the Portland, Ore., farmer who asked, "Why all the commotion about how to stop a rooster from crowing?" Chickens are originally from the jungle. Their wild relatives have lived in tropical forests for tens of thousands of years. Perched in the trees and sensitive to infrared light, roosters see the morning light at least 45 minutes before we humans do. They also have very keen ears.

Why do roosters crow? Through their crowing, every rooster knows where every other rooster is at all times. As the protector of the flock, roosters are always on the lookout for possible enemies that could threaten their well-being.

In his own fascinating world of chickendom, the rooster is a lover, a father, a brother, a food-finder, a guardian and a sentinel. He is nothing to abuse, scoff at or degrade. - Karen Davis, Ph.D., President, United Poultry Concerns Inc.

Dear Karen: I may never be able to enjoy a chicken dinner again. Who would want to deprive a family of a father, a brother, a provider, a guardian or a sentinel?

Your letter brings to mind something that appeared in my column many years ago. A reader asked: "Do roosters have a sex organ?" My reply: "Yes, but it's nothing to crow about."